The January 2026 OVATION! Awards,
Celebrating the Musicals of 2025

​The 22nd Annual OVATION! Awards was held at the St. James Community Hall Sunday January 25th, 2026 - 7PM and presented awards to individuals and companies that made musicals happen in the Lower Mainland in 2025! The award show featured 37 award presentations and performances from numerous shows presented in 2025, performed by over 65 performers.  Gillian Barbara and Suzanne Ouellette were recognized for their long time contribution to musical thetare in the Lower Mainland and received Long Time Achievement Awards. 

The nominees (listed in alphabetical order) & award recipients are bolded an in purple...

Outstanding New Musical (large or small theatre)
  • According to Aurelie, book, music and lyrics by Lauren Trotzuk - Langley Little Theatre
  • Back From the Dead, Story by Jim Buckshon & Tom Harrison, Music & Lyrics by Renegade - Renegade Arts Co.
  • Shakespeare Sings, Book, Music & Lyrics by Daniel McLeod. 
  • Wrenched: The Renovation Musical, Book & Lyrics by Glynis Whiting, Music by Richard Link. 

Outstanding Chamber/Small Cast (large or small theatre)
  • A Peter Rabbit Tale, CTORA Theatre
  • A Year with Frog and Toad, White Rock Players
  • The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Pump Boys and Dinettes, First Impressions Theatre
  • Songs for a New World, First Impressions Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design of a musical (large or small theatre)
  • Brian Ball - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Starlynn Chen - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre
  • Erin Gravelle - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Metro Theatre
  • Alaia Hamer - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Jaimie Lievers - A Peter Rabbit Tale, CTORA Theatre

Outstanding Performance: Ensemble Member (large or small theatre)
  • Holly Collis Handford (Anybodys) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Jyla Robinson (Beverly) - The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Norma Rushton (Sister Mary Lazarus), Sister Act - Theatre In The Country
  • Lexi Limin (Pillar), Madison Raybould (Serena), Madison Simms (Margot): (the Greek chorus/trio) – Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Elizabeth Maller (Mrs Cohen/Police Office/Soloist/Life Support Group Member) - Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • Katrina Teitz (Ensemble) - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre

Outstanding Performance - Ensemble Member (large or small theatre)
  • Colton Avery Fyfe (Action) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Jeffrey Follis & Jaren Guerreiro (Sven) – Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Kevin McNulty (Doc) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Chris Adams (Oliver Hix), Brennan Cuff (Jacey Squires), Brandyn Eddy (Ewart Dunlop) & Nick Fontaine (Olin Britt) - The Men's Barber Shop Quartet - The Music Man (Align Entertainment)
  • Patrick Yukman ( Zebulon/Butler) - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Metro Theatre

Outstanding Performance - Youth (large or small theatre)
  • Nora Cowan & Leanne Uy (Young Elsa) - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Adriana Buvyer & Perla De Leon (Young Anna) - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company 
  • Elle Hanson (Violet Beauregarde) – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Azaleah Korn (Annie) – Annie, Gateway Theatre
  • ​Mana Nakamura (Veruca Salt) – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars

Outstanding Performance - Youth (large or small theatre)
  • Riley Calderwood (Winthrop Paroo) - The Music Man, Align Entertainment
  • Ryder Macinnes & Quinlan McDonald (James) - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre
  • Henry Sudds (Charlie Bucket) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Callum Templeton (Mike Teavee) – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
    
Outstanding Newcomer (large or small theatre)
  • Sophia Brigden (Zanetta Shinn) - The Music Man, Align Entertainment
  • Jennie Grenelle (Ethel Teavee) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Vanessa Hodgins (Soloist) - Songs for a New World, First Impressions Theatre
  • Elizabeth Maller (Mrs Cohen/Police Office/Soloist/Life Support Group Member) – Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • Madison Raybould (Alice) – Alice By Heart, CAPU Theatre

Outstanding Newcomer (large or small theatre)
  • Owen Connolly (Big Deal) – West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Josh Graetz (Riff) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Nicolas Lam (Jerry Jubilee) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Gabriel Macdonald (Joe) - 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Javid Nouripour (Eddie Souther) - Sister Act, Theatre In The Country

Outstanding Lighting Design of a musical (large or small theatre)
  • Itai Erdal - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Jason Hand - A Whole New World - Sound the Alarm
  • Hina Nishioka - Alice By Heart, CAPU Theatre
  • Michelle Ramsay - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Robert Sondergaard - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars

Outstanding Sound Design of a musical (large or small theatre)
  • Rick Colhoun - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Brad Danyluk - Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Kate De Lorme - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Christopher King - Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • Matthew MacDonald-Bain - Annie, Gateway Theatre

Outstanding Band/Orchestra Performance (large or small theatre)
  • The Band of The Mad Ones, Music Director Taylor McKee - Sherwood Theatre
  • The Band of The Music Man, Music Director Brent Hughes - Align Entertainment
  • The Band of Rent, Music Director Sylvia M Zaradic - Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • The Band of Waitress, Music Director Caitlin Hayes - Arts Club Theatre Company
  • The Band of West Side Story, Music Director Kevin Woo - CTORA Theatre

SMALL THEATRE
(Venue seating under 225* seats)

Small Theatre: Outstanding Music Direction of a musical
  • Jayda Grant - Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
  • Kate MacColl - Pump Boys and Dinettes, First Impressions Theatre
  • Taylor McKee - The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Gordon Roberts - Songs for a New World, First Impressions Theatre
  • Allan Thorpe - A Year with Frog and Toad, White Rock Players

Small Theatre: Outstanding Direction of a musical
  • Becky MacDormand - A Year With Frog and Toad, White Rock Players
  • Thomas Schultes - The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Tarrah Tanaka - According to Aurelie, Langley Little Theatre
  • Lauren Trotzuk - Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
  • Michelle Thorne-Speir - A Peter Rabbit Tale, CTORA Theatre

Small Theatre: Outstanding Choreography of a musical
  • Tamara Jaune - Sister Act, Theatre InThe Country
  • Julia Kelleway - The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Troy McLaughlin - Alice By Heart, CAPU Theatre

Small Theatre: Outstanding Set Design of a musical
  • Brian Ball - Alice By Heart, CAPU Theatre
  • Josh Christensen - Pump Boys and Dinettes, First Impressions Theatre
  • David Williams - According to Aurelie, Langley Little Theatre

Small Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Principal role
  • Rachel Angco (Sam) - The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Brynna Drummond (Peter Rabbit) - A Peter Rabbit Tale, CTORA Theatre
  • Alexis Hope (Delores Van Cartier) - Sister Act, Theatre In the Country
  • Amanda Russell (Frog) - A Year With Frog and Toad, White Rock Players
  • Cath de la Rambelje (Toad) - A Year With Frog and Toad, White Rock Players

Small Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Principal role
  • Kaden Burgart (Joey) - According to Aurelie, Langley Little Theatre
  • Sheldon Graham (Jim) - Pump Boys and Dinettes, First Impressions Theatre
  • Konrad Lasocki (Soloist) - Songs for a new world, First Impressions Theatre
  • Javid Nouripour (Eddie Souther) - Policeman - Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
  • Laren Steppler (Tamino) - The Magic Flute, North Shore Light Opera

Small Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Supporting role
  • Kyla Fradette (Tabitha/Cheshire Cat et Al) - Alice By Heart, CAPU Theatre
  • Tori Kazemir (Sister Mary Robert) Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
  • Amy Meeks (Sister Mary Patrick) - Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
  • Madison Raybould (Kelly) - The Mad Ones, Sherwood Theatre
  • Cassie Unger (Tilly) – The Cricket On the Hearth, United Players

Small Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Supporting role
  • Patrick Arnott (Curtis) - Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
  • Mikey Enriquez (Monostatos) - The Magic Flute, North Shore LIght Opera
  • Vincent Keats (Boxer) - The Cricket On The Hearth, United Players
  • Timothy Marron (Captain Corcoran) - HMS Pinafore, Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Gordon Roberts (Buddy Toupee) - Gunmetal Blues, First Impressions Theatre

Small Theatre: Outstanding Production
  • Alice By Heart, CAPU Theatre
  • HMS Pinafore, Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Sister Act, Theatre In The Country
LARGE THEATRE
(Venue seating 226+ seats)

Large Theatre: Outstanding Music Direction of a musical
  • Ken Cormier - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Eliza De Castro - Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Caitlin Hayes - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Brent Hughes - The Music Man, Align Entertainment
  • Angus Kellett - 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Kevin Woo - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre

Large Theatre: Outstanding Direction of a musical
  • Chris Adams & Valerie Easton - 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Chris Adams - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Jayme Armstrong - Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Ashlie Corcoran - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Christopher Lam - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre
  • Shel Piercy - Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group

Large Theatre: Outstanding Choreography of a musical
  • Lyndsey Britten - Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Keri Minty - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Shelley Stewart Hunt - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Shelley Stewart Hunt - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Metro Theatre
  • Melissa Turpin - The Music Man, Align Entertainment

Large Theatre: Outstanding Set Design of a musical
  • Brian Ball - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre
  • Starlynn Chen - Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • Ryan Cormack - Annie, Gateway Theatre
  • Emily Dotson - 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Cory Sincennes - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company

Large Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Principal role
  • Maia Beresford (DoraLee) - 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Cassandra Consiglio (Maria) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Ranae Miller (Marian Paroo) - The Music Man, Align Entertainment
  • Madeleine Suddaby (Judy) - 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Abby Woodhouse (Elle) - Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • ​Synthia Yusuf (Anna) - Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company

Large Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Principal role
  • Charlie Gallant (Daddy Warbucks) - Annie, Gateway Theatre 
  • Kamyar Pazandeh (Dr. Pomatter) - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Sayer Roberts (Tony) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Peter Ricardo (Willy Wonka) - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Argel Monte de Ramos  (Joseph) - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Metro Theatre
  • Pier Francesco Marchi (Mark) - Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group

Large Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Supporting role
  • Sarah Cantuba (Dawn) - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Steffanie Davis (Bulda) – Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Paula Higgins (Maureen) - Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • Kyrst Hogan (Spiker) - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre
  • Nicole Laurent (Anita) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Madeleine Suddaby (Paulette) - Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars

Large Theatre: Outstanding Performance in a Supporting role
  • Colton Avery Fyfe (Earthworm) - James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre
  • Daniel Curalli (Hans) – Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Josh Epstein (Ogie) - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Joaquín Little (Olaf) – Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Vincente Sandoval (Bernardo) - West Side Story, CTORA Theatre
  • Jacob Woike (Earl) - Waitress, Arts Club Theatre Company

Large Theatre: Outstanding Production
  • 9 to 5, Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Frozen, Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Legally Blonde, Theatre Under The Stars
  • Rent, Metro Theatre in Partnership with Mary Cleaver Group
  • West Side Story, CTORA Theatre

Outstanding Artistic Achievement in 2025
This award is selected and presented at the discretion of the current jury to recognize distinctive or exceptional elements of a musical that do not fit within existing award categories. Unlike other categories, this one is not voted on. Each person nominated receives an award.
  • Suzanne Ouellette for choreographing West Side Story recreating the original Jerome Robbins Choreography from the original production, for CTORA Theatre. 
  • Jason King for Outstanding Projection Design for the musical Gunmetal Blues presented by First Impressions Theatre.
  • Kylie Lorenzana Fonacier, Music Director and arranger for re-scoring the original HMS Pinafore Score for a 1940’s sound and band, for Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Amica Pasquale, puppets and props design for James and the Giant Peach, CTORA Theatre

OVATION! Awards Hashtag #OVawards
APPLAUSE! Musicals Society @applausems